Taiwanese troops prepare for urban warfare with PLA in latest drill

Soldiers fire at each other from houses and sandbag barricades in mock-up town during simulated battle

Island lives under threat of invasion from Beijing, which has ramped up military and diplomatic pressure

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Taiwanese soldiers take part in the drill in a mock-up town in Kaohsiung on Thursday. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 5:41pm, 6 Jan 2022

Taiwanese troops and armoured vehicles were deployed on Thursday for a mock urban street battle in the latest drill preparing forces against mainland China, which has long vowed to take the island.

Taiwan lives under constant threat of an invasion by Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized one day – by force if necessary.

Beijing has ramped up military drills and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, as she regards the island as a sovereign nation.

On Thursday, soldiers from two platoons faced off in a simulated battle, firing at each other from houses and sandbag barricades as tanks rolled down a street in a mock-up town complete with signs for pharmacies and beer brands.

Armoured vehicles roll down a street during the simulated battle involving soldiers from two platoons. Photo: AP

Urban warfare has become an increasingly key training subject for the military.

“Any future battle to protect Taiwan will be an urban warfare,” Kiwi Yang, an instructor at the Army Infantry School, told reporters, noting that most of Taiwan’s 23 million people live in cities.